You can cancel Spotify through your account settings on any device, and your access stops at the end of your current billing period

Spotify does not charge you again after you cancel — your subscription runs until the date you were already paid through, then stops. You keep access to music until that date ends. The cancellation takes effect immediately in your account settings, but the timing of when you lose access depends on when your next billing date was scheduled.

The steps are the same whether you pay Spotify directly or through Apple, Google Play, or Amazon. However, if you subscribed through an app store rather than Spotify's website, you may need to cancel through that store instead to stop being charged.

Key Takeaways

  • Cancellation through Spotify's website or app takes effect right away, and you keep access until your paid period ends.
  • If you subscribed through Apple App Store, Google Play, or Amazon, you must cancel through that store to stop charges, not through Spotify.
  • You can reactivate your account later using the same login — your saved playlists and preferences stay in place for 30 days after cancellation.
  • Downgrading to a free account is an option if you want to keep using Spotify without paying.

Cancelling through Spotify's website or app

Log into your Spotify account on a web browser or open the Spotify app. Go to your account settings — on the website, click your profile name in the top right corner and select "Account". In the app, tap the gear icon (settings) at the top right.

Scroll down to find "Subscription" or "Premium" and look for a button that says "Cancel Premium" or "Manage Subscription". Click or tap it. Spotify will ask you to confirm the cancellation and may offer you a discount to stay — you can ignore this and proceed. Once you confirm, the cancellation is complete. You will receive a confirmation email.

Your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid for a month on the 15th, you can use Premium until the 15th of next month. After that date, your account automatically converts to the free version of Spotify.

Cancelling a subscription through an app store

If you signed up for Spotify through Apple App Store, Google Play Store, or Amazon Appstore, you must cancel through that store, not through Spotify itself. Cancelling only in Spotify's app settings will not stop the charges.

Apple App Store: Open the App Store app, tap your profile icon in the top right, select "Subscriptions", find Spotify, and tap "Cancel Subscription". Google Play: Open Google Play, tap your profile icon, go to "Payments and subscriptions", select "Subscriptions", find Spotify, and tap "Cancel subscription". Amazon: Go to your Amazon account, select "Login & security", scroll to "Subscriptions", find Spotify, and select "Cancel subscription".

After you cancel through the app store, Spotify will receive notice within a few hours to a day. You will still have access through the end of your paid period. If you cancel mid-cycle, you will not receive a refund for the unused portion.

What happens to your account after cancellation

Your account does not disappear. You can log back in anytime using your same email and password. Your playlists, saved songs, and followers stay in your account for 30 days after cancellation. After 30 days, Spotify may delete your playlists and listening history, though your followers list usually remains.

If you reactivate your Premium subscription within 30 days, everything is restored exactly as it was. After 30 days, reactivating will restore your account but your playlists may be gone.

During the free tier, you can still listen to music with ads, create playlists, and follow other users. You lose the ability to download songs for offline listening, skip unlimited songs, and listen ad-free.

Downgrading to free instead of cancelling

If you want to keep using Spotify but do not want to pay, you can downgrade to the free version instead of cancelling entirely. This stops charges immediately and you keep your account active with no gap in service.

To downgrade, go to your account settings and look for "Subscription" or "Premium". Instead of clicking "Cancel", look for an option to "Downgrade to Free" or "Switch to Free". Not all accounts show this option — if you do not see it, you may need to cancel and then sign up for the free tier separately using the same email address.

Refunds and billing questions

Spotify does not refund unused portions of your subscription. If you paid for a full month and cancel after one week, you do not get money back. Your access simply continues through the end of the month you paid for.

If you were charged after you cancelled, check whether you subscribed through an app store. App store subscriptions sometimes continue charging even after you cancel in Spotify's settings — you must cancel through the store itself. If you cancelled through the correct method and were still charged, contact Spotify support through your account settings to report the issue.

If you used a free trial and were charged when it ended, you cancelled after the trial period started but before it ended. Spotify does not refund trial charges.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cancel Spotify anytime or is there a contract?

You can cancel anytime with no contract or penalty. Cancellation takes effect immediately in your account, though you keep access through the end of your paid billing period. There is no early termination fee.

Will I lose my playlists if I cancel?

Your playlists stay in your account for 30 days after cancellation. If you reactivate within 30 days, everything is restored. After 30 days, Spotify may delete your playlists, though your account itself remains.

What if I cancel through Spotify but the app store keeps charging me?

You cancelled in the wrong place. If you subscribed through Apple, Google, or Amazon, you must cancel through that store's subscription settings, not through Spotify. Log into the app store account and find the subscription management section to cancel there.

Can I get a refund for the month I cancelled in?

No. Spotify does not refund unused time. You keep access through the end of the billing period you already paid for, and that is the extent of the refund policy.

Do I need to cancel before my free trial ends?

Yes. If you do not cancel before the trial period ends, Spotify will charge you for the first month of Premium. You can cancel anytime during the trial and you will not be charged. After the trial ends and charges begin, cancelling stops future charges but does not refund the charge that already went through.